US will build two new military bases in southern and eastern Greenland

The two military bases that the United States will build in Greenland are located in the south and east of the territory, according to the security agreement signed Tuesday between the Arctic island, Washington and Copenhagen.

Earlier this year, President Donald Trump sparked a crisis with his allies in Europe by threatening to seize this autonomous Danish territory in the Arctic, a strategic location that is also rich in resources.

The United States, Denmark and Greenland signed a 10-page agreement in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. This pact grants Washington control over the territory's security.

What does the agreement say?

"The United States will be authorized to establish an additional defense zone in Narsarsuaq (south) and in Mestersvig (east)," according to Article 4 of the text, which specifies that Washington may also modernize and expand its only active base, Pituffik, located in the north of the island.

The text recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark and the right of the people of Greenland to self-determination.

A provision intended to prevent U.S. rivals such as China and Russia from establishing a foothold in the Arctic prohibits countries that are not members of NATO or the European Union from participating in strategic sectors on the island.

The agreement also stipulates that Greenland, a territory with a population of 57,000, will remain subject to these terms even if it gains independence from Denmark and must remain in or join NATO "if necessary."

A 1951 defense pact, updated in 2004, already allowed the United States to strengthen its military presence on the island if it gave advance notice to Denmark and Greenland.